Asian Tour: Els battles jet-lag to stay in touch

South African Ernie Els struggled with jet-lag but stayed within striking distance of Thai veteran Thongchai Jaidee, who took a two-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the Indonesian Masters in Jakarta yesterday.

Els was tied fourth, four strokes behind Thongchai, after carding five birdies and three bogeys for a two-under-par 70 at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club. “Today was a bit of a jet-lag day for me. I was trying to get some energy going. I think my game is all there. I just need to get a bit sharper mentally,” the South African said.

Thongchai, three-times Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, hit a blemish-free seven-under-par 65 to move two shots ahead of Australian Scott Barr.

Northern Open champion James Byrne missed the cut by 13 shots. The Banchory man had rounds of 80 and 79 for 159.